North Korea shows off soccer school

PYONGYANG – North Korea has shown Japanese news organizations a school to train elite soccer players newly built in a Pyongyang park in line with the country’s policy of promoting sports.

The Pyongyang International Football School, which opened in May, is equipped with dormitories and provides soccer training as well as basic education to primary and secondary school students, according to students.

A 13-year-old boy from Sinuiju, which borders with China, said he dreams about becoming a national-team soccer player.

“My goal is to become a soccer player like (Argentina’s Diego) Maradona,” he told Japanese reporters who visited the park in late June. The boy said he does not know any Japanese soccer player.